Ftp uploads are dodgy. Some success, but most fail

[zulubanshee]

I am moving servers. I have a large directory of images, about 3000 (800MB) in all, and most are failing (about 6 fails to 1 success). There seems to be no pattern. All files start with a numeral and end in a jpg. The specific message is "could not start transfer" (filezilla). The other files, mostly php, uploaded fine. I've tried uploading the entire directory and the files individually. I've tried smartftp, but it just keeps trying to upload the same file.

The files are all different size. Some are almost 5MB, others are as small as 5kb; but that seems to play no role. I am transfering in passive mode and binary. I tried to use the MS command line ftp, but the online tutorials seem to be wrong.

This is taking days.

Thanks for any help you could offer.

[rocknbil]

Since no one's answered, I can say it's safe to presume at one time or another we've all experienced this.

It's also safe to say it's **extremely** hard to debug and there is no single solution.

When this happens, the first thing you do is contact the host and relate the problem. Most likely, they will shoot you a short-cut solution that may or may not solve it: try switching between passive mode and non-passive mode (sounds like you've given that a try already.)

Sometimes it's related to a server setting, like FTP timeout. Sometimes it's related to a firewall, on your end or on the server. I have one client that for whatever reason, their server absolutely will not work in passive mode, and no one knows why.

The best is to work through it with your host techs, unfortunately.

[zulubanshee]

thanks for your input. I'll try out your suggestion